Radiologists warn cancer patients ‘deteriorating’ amid staff shortages

North and west Wales are among the areas worst affected by shortages in the UK, with a 42% shortfall in consultant radiologists compared to 22% in south Wales, according to data published in the Royal College of Radiologists’ 2025 clinical radiology census.

Clara Day, executive medical director at Betsi Cadwaladr health board in north Wales, said she understood the figures “can be very worrying for patients”, adding the health board was “actively recruiting” into both radiology and oncology – the department which handles cancer diagnoses and treatment.

“We are also strengthening our links with the North Wales Medical School to support future workforce development.”

She said the health board’s clinical strategy for oncology had led to “key developments”, including nurse-led clinics and the introduction of colorectal and breast metastatic nurse specialist teams.

“Robust arrangements are in place to maintain safe services, prioritise patients according to clinical need and to continue delivering high-quality oncology care for the people of north Wales,” she said.

Day added that “despite a substantial increase in demand for imaging services”, partnering with a third-party provider had contributed to a decline in waiting times for scans and results since April.

She said these reporting times were also closely and consistently monitored.

One of the main reasons for the shortage is that Wales has more radiology departments affected by recruitment freezes than anywhere in the UK.

In 2024, the radiology workforce in Wales grew by just 1.1%, far below the UK average of 5%.

Dr Owen Nicholas, a consultant oncologist in Swansea and chair of the Welsh committee for the Royal College of Radiologists, said: “It is not getting better and the patients are now getting affected.”

He said the shortage was also impacting staff, adding: “There is a challenge, where you sit in front of a patient who is extremely anxious to know has the treatment worked or has it come back.

“For you to have to say, ‘sorry I don’t know, because I don’t have the report in front of me’, or perhaps you cancel an appointment because a scan report has not come back.

“The primary concern is for the patient, but it is not very nice for a clinician to have to do that over and over again.”